The Canadian citizenship test 2026: how it works

The Canadian citizenship test has 20 questions, and you need 15 right to pass. You get 45 minutes. Most people take it online, at home, with a webcam watching.

Last checked: 31 October 2026.

This is general information to help you prepare. Your own case is decided by IRCC.

The test at a glance

• Questions: 20, multiple choice or true or false.
• Pass mark: 15 right, which is 75 percent.
• Time: 45 minutes.
• Language: English or French. The test does not ask language questions.
• Where: online with a webcam by default. You can take it from any place.
• Tries: up to 3.
• Result: an officer reviews an online test first. That takes a few days or a few weeks.

Who has to take it

Most people who apply for citizenship take the test if they were 18 to 54 on the day they signed the application. If you were under 18 or 55 or older on that day, you do not take it. Some people have a waiver. If you are not sure which group you are in, check your own case on the IRCC site.

How you get the test

You do not book it. IRCC sends you an email invitation, usually a few weeks or months after you apply. The link to the test is in that email. You then have 30 days to take it. Read how the online test works before you click the link, because the rules for the room, the device and the camera are strict.

Some people sit the test another way, on paper, by voice or on a video call, for example when they need support. If you need this, ask after you get the invitation.

What the test asks about

Every question comes from one book, Discover Canada. The topics are:

• the rights and responsibilities of citizenship
• Canadian history
• geography and the regions
• the economy
• how government works, and the law
• national symbols

The questions test facts. You do not write anything, and nobody asks you to speak English or French well. You read each question, pick an answer and move on.

Is the Canadian citizenship test hard?

For most people, no. About 91 in 100 tests passed in 2022. That is an old figure, so treat it as a rough guide and not a promise. We do not know if it counts first tries or all tries.

Still, 15 out of 20 leaves room for only 5 mistakes. People lose marks on dates, on the names of regions and on how the levels of government share work. Our guide to the hardest topics shows where to put your time.

How long should you study?

Plenty of people need a few weeks of short sessions. You have the 30 days from your invitation, but you can start well before it comes. Read the book chapter by chapter, then practise under test conditions: 20 questions, 45 minutes, no notes. Our study guide has a plan you can follow.

What if you fail?

A fail is not the end. You can try again, up to 3 times in the 30 days. If you fail all three, you go to a hearing with a citizenship officer. It lasts 30 to 90 minutes. There you answer 20 spoken knowledge questions and need 15 right. There are also questions about where you have lived and a short language check. A pass means you wait for the ceremony. A fail means your application is refused, and you must apply again and pay the fees again. Read more in what happens if you fail.

What comes after you pass

An officer may ask you to an interview to check your identity and your papers. Then IRCC invites you to a citizenship ceremony, where you take the oath. See the oath of citizenship and the citizenship ceremony. For the full wait from application to ceremony, see the processing time.

Before you apply

You need to meet the rules first. See the requirements, the fees and the application steps.

Practise the way the test works

Our free practice test has 20 questions and a timer, like the real thing. Try it when you are ready to see where you stand: free practice test. Or see the prices if you want more practice tests.